Fwd: Grade 8 news

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

This week in science: 

Why atoms combine, molecules and compounds.

"Impact" testing on Thursday 3/19.  Sarah Holmes, the YHS athletic trainer, will be visiting science classes to administer an online concussion, base line test.  Please look for the blue permission slip with more information.  

This week in social studies:

The 50s, Kennedy, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.  

Students will take a quiz on Friday 3/20  that focuses on Chapters 1-19 (the 1950s and early 60s)

Other:

2nd trimester grades will be complete on Friday afternoon 3/20. 

Periodic Table unit test tentatively scheduled for Friday 3/27.

Coming up next week

Science:

• Current event share on Monday 3/9
• Periodic Table quiz on Tuesday! 3/10

Social Studies:

• Guest speaker Edith Pagelson, a holocaust survivor, will speak to the 8th grade students on Monday 3/9 about her experiences during World War II.  
• On Tuesday, we begin our study of the last half of the 20th century.  

Other:

• Tuesday 3/10 and  Wednesday 3/11 :  YHS class registration conferences.  Conferences are with the high school advisor at YHS.  
• Friday 3/13:  Teacher inservice day (no school for students).
• A great article on understanding the teenage brain.
• Additional articles and parent resources are located on my homepage in the "Parents' Corner".

Have a great weekend!

3/2 - 3/6

This past week, the YHS guidance counselors and 9th grade teachers visited with the 8th grade students to share information about the high school schedule and classes.  Each student received a YHS course selection booklet. Videos of the presentations can be viewed here.

Next week students will have the option to register for 9th grade honors level classes or college prep. level classes.  The honors level classes are more challenging, have more homework, and require more independent work.  Discuss class selection with your student, to identify the most appropriate level for each class.  Please let me know if you have questions regarding course selection.  

This week in science:

We begin a study of Matter and Energy that focuses on the organization of the periodic table.  

This week in social studies:

We will wrap up our study of Gandhi, and will begin our study of the Cold War next week.

Looking ahead:

• Your student's transition conference is scheduled for either this Tuesday 3/3 or Wednesday 3/4. 
  
• At the transition conference you will sign up for a follow up course registration conference at YHS for next week.  (Bring your calendar to the transition conference).
• 2nd trimester ends on Thursday, March 12.  Please check in with your student regarding his/her progress this trimester.
• Friday, March 13- Teacher inservice day (no school for students)

Happy March :)